Long-life zinc electrodes achieved by oxygen plasma functionalization.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Zinc dendrite formation is a major limitation in the lifespan and safety of zinc-based batteries.
• Effective strategies for dendrite inhibition are crucial for advancing energy storage technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a facile method for inhibiting zinc dendrite growth using oxygen plasma treatment.
• To enhance the electrochemical performance and cycling stability of zinc electrodes.

Main Methods:

• Surface modification of zinc electrodes via oxygen plasma treatment.
• Characterization of surface oxygen functional groups.
• Electrochemical testing of full batteries to evaluate cycling performance and Coulombic efficiency.

Main Results:

• Oxygen plasma treatment effectively modified surface oxygen functional groups on zinc electrodes.
• Plasma-treated electrodes exhibited significantly inhibited zinc dendrite formation.
• Extended working lifespan of 3800 hours and over 99% average Coulombic efficiency for 1000 cycles were achieved.

Conclusions:

• The proposed oxygen plasma treatment is a promising strategy for dendrite-free zinc electrodes.
• This method offers a viable pathway for fabricating long-life zinc batteries suitable for grid-scale energy storage.